Quarter-Finalist
Jennifer Detmar
Students’ joyful faces and sounds of discovery in STEAM project learning. Building confidence that they ALL can change the world for better.
Students’ joyful faces and sounds of discovery in STEAM project learning. Building confidence that they ALL can change the world for better.
Help me become America's Favorite Teacher, win $25,000, a trip to Hawaii, and appear in Reader's Digest!
One outstanding teacher will win $25,000, a feature in Reader's Digest, a trip to Hawaii, and a school assembly with Bill Nye!
Learn MoreLearning is FUN! My second grade teacher did NOT let me slide or give up. I was an autistic, gifted student in a time before this was understood. She loved the difficult me, kept me accountable, held high expectations, encouraged me to follow my interests. I have always wanted to bring that same spark to my own students. Ask questions and find the answers. Be creative. Seek new experiences! See math, art and science as the way to understand our world. Love growing your mind! Do it with humor!
Tell us about your most memorable teaching experienceDifficult… torn between creating an eclipse learning tent for a local arts nonprofit organization and earning a large grant to run a 2 week summer camp for girls in STEM. In both situations, we found fun ways to integrate science into art and connect to the real world. I recently got a message from one of those girls, who went to the camp, who is now seeking a degree in theoretical mathematics. I also have current students who still gather data just for fun! I thrive on that curiosity and joy.
What would you do with the $25,000?I would donate toward an outdoor classroom for my school, near the new learning garden we just built. It would be a pergola with white boards, tables and scientific data gathering equipment so that 50 students could comfortably engage in authentic learning, including Monarch butterfly tagging/release, making a native prairie, rotating art, etc. I would provide scholarships for young women follow STEM dreams, and take my family on an amazing natural adventure. Maybe Iceland? Maybe Australia?
Help Jennifer Detmar become America’s Favorite Teacher while supporting a great cause! Cast your daily vote below, or make an even bigger impact with a tax-deductible donation benefiting the Planetary Society.
Limited-time: 2X donation votes ends on Wed 4/16 at 9PM PDT
Colossal is a nationally registered professional fundraiser that inspires people to advocate for themselves and those in need. Through online competitions like America's Favorite Teacher, Colossal offers participants the opportunity to make their mark while also making a big impact.
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